Cheetah Racing Cars (Australia)

Cheetah Racing Cars were designed and constructed by Brian Shead in a small factory at the rear of his home in Mordialloc, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. There were never any employees other than Brian – his was a one-man racing car factory.

The first car was built for his own use in 1960 and two more were constructed in 1962 and 1963. In 1970 he began building a new design and was persuaded to build a second car for a friend and in 1973 he gave up his job to build racing cars full time.

From 1960 to 1989, Brian built a total of 49 cars from the original “Cooper copy” Mk1 to the “Formula Holden” Mk9. He competed in his cars, racing the first of each model up to the Mk7 in 1980, when he retired from racing to concentrate on customer support and manufacturing. From May 1970 to February 1980, Brian raced at 293 events for 112 wins, 228 podium places, 85 fastest laps and 30 lap records – an outstanding competition record.

He is still actively involved in motor sport today, being a long standing member of the CAMS National Track Safety Committee, as well as supplying parts and advice to Cheetah owners.

Editor needed

These histories were constructed in 2006 with the help of a number of Cheetah owners but the editor of the material has since moved on. OldRacingCars.com is happy to continue to provide a home for these histories but a new Editor, ideally located in Australia, is needed to bring them up to date and to continue the work. Please email Allen Brown (allen@oldracingcars.com) if you are able to take on this role.

Hugh Gartley (VIC) has retained his Corolla-engined Mk 4 for many years and was racing it until recently.

Cheetah Mk4E

Built for Australian Formula 2.

Chassis

History

Current owner

Cheetah Mk4E ‘42-1’

Delivery date 1 Feb 1974. First owner Graeme Crawford. Subsequent history unknown but a car matching this description is currently in storage in Australia. More to follow on this car as it arrives.

Unknown

Cheetah Mk5

Built for Australian Formula 3.

Chassis

History

Current owner

Cheetah Mk5 ‘53-1’

Delivery date 7 Feb 1974. First owner Brian Shead. Converted at the end of the 1975 season into ANF2 car 63-1 and raced by Shead until the end of the 1979 season, winning the 1979 ANF2 title. Sold to Frank Curcio at the end of 1979 – Les Groom 1983 – A Ashley 1986 – Peter Glover 1993 and rebuilt by Brian Shead during the 1990s. To Gray Malyon 2005 and retained 2006.

AF3 car. Delivery date 20 Feb 1976. BDA engine???. First owner Brian Sampson. Subsequent history unknown and likely to be the Mk5/Mk6 listed above as 53-2. However, if it is 53-2, then the delivery date makes little sense and the BDA engine is definitely wrong.

AF3 car. Delivery date 30 Jun 1976. First owner Geoff Phillips – Ian Richards. According to Gordon Dowthwaite’s research, Richard sold it to Tom Monro (or Monroe) as a rolling chassis in 1980. It next appears in an Escada Finance yard and was bought by Peter Smeets, still as a roller. Then to Graham Sharley who fitted a Toyota Celica engine and got the log book S1252 which is still with the car. To Adam Kaplan (Sydney) – Gordon Dowthwaite (Leongatha, VIC) around 1992/93. Retained 2006. Gordon would be interested in swapping the Celica for a VW powerplant if any Mk6 F2 owners are interested in that.

Gordon Dowthwaite (Aus) 2006

Cheetah Mk6
‘63-6’

Graham Engel in the Mk6-Ford at Amaroo Park in 1980. Copyright Glenn Moulds 2006. Used with permission.

Cheetah Mk6E

A number of Mk6Es were also built, new cars having gone to Grahame Blee (Celica engine), Murray Wilson and David Crabtree (Ford). One of these later went through the hands of Mick Markham and then Warren Brown but, based on correspondence Alan Watts has between Shead and Markham, Watts believes this to be the car he now owns (see 62-11 above).

Another Mk6E, reported to have once been owned by Bruce Kennedy, is currently owned by Geoff Wiseman. However, Ron Coat reports that the ex-Bruce Kennedy car is the Mk 6 now owned by Trevor Longmore (see above).

Cheetah Mk7

Built for Australian Formula 2. New monocoque, bodywork, suspension etc. First ground effects car. The first car was sold to Peter Macrow in March 1980 after Brian Shead’s retirement from driving. Six more cars followed over the next two seasons, all following the pattern Shead’s prototype but with Peter Glover’s car powered by a Judd Golf 1600cc engine.

AF2 car. Delivery date 6 Feb 1987. First owner Arthur Abrahams and said to have gone to Tom Crozier next. Rebuilt with a new tub after a crash at Oran Park 17 Apr 1988. Known as the “Ransburg Cheetah”. With Chris Coombs for about four years and then to Kevin Lewis. Retained 2006.

Kevin Lewis (Aus) 2006.

In Jan 2014, Peter Jones email to say that he had owned: "Chassis number was 804 and Log Book was N5131.
Built in 1984 for Keith McClelland and came second in ANF2 Championship by 1 point. (painted white). Then raced by Arthur Abrahams (painted in Ignis Fridges livery). Not sure if Arthur owned or leased this car. Leased by Mike Hall for 3 races. Purchased by Tom Crozier (date?) for conversion to Formula Holden but not progressed with. Purchased by myself (Dec’87) and raced ANF2 at Mallala, Winton and Lakeside in 1988. Sold to Arnold? And Lindy Rigby of Wamboin NSW 1989. No known history since this time." This appears to connect '82-1', which was the fourth Mk 8, with '82-6'.

Cheetah Mk9

These histories have been compiled using production records provided by Brian Shead of Cheetah Racing Cars. Thanks also to Bryan Miller for his assistance with the cars presently racing in historics; to owners Gordon Dowthwaite, Rohan Christmas, Alan Watts, Gary Malyon, Edward Gavin and Ron Coath; and to Glenn Moulds, Derek Winter, Russell Jay and Mick O’Brien.

All and any help would be gratefully received. Please e-mail Allen at allen@oldracingcars.com if you can add anything.